Grid construction for rooflights



March 16, 1954 G. H. LENKE GRID CONSTRUCTION FOR ROOFLIGHTS 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed May 16. 1952 INVENTOR.

Geo 'fyeflle 72 }L 6 Y March 4 G. H. LENKE GRID CONSTRUCTION FOR ROOFLIGHTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16. 1952 I INVENTOR.

Gco yefz lenle Patented Mar. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRID CONSTRUCTION FOR ROOFLIGHTS George H. Lenke, Chicago, Ill., assignor of onehalf to Julius J. Ohlis, Oak Park, Ill.

Application May 16, 1952, Serial No. 288,199

9 Claims. (01. 108-16) 1 This invention is a grid construction relating particularly roofiights, having for its primary object to provide a structure for application to a roof or other wall opening of simple construction, which involves a minimum of parts, and which when properly applied adequately and ef- 'fectively supports the lights and maintains them securely and with a minimum opportunity for leakage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grid construction characterized by assembly means which permits of the roofiights being prefabricated in finished slabs or panels for ready application to the roof or wall opening.

A further object is to provide a structure of the character generally set forth which permits of the fabricated frameworkbeing easily, quickly and eifectively secured within the roof or wall opening and the lights easily arranged and sealed therein with a minimum of opportunity for leakage.

Afurther and particular object of the invention is to provide a grid construction for the accommodation and support of the lights which may be fabricated and assembled by simple and yet effective means for the adequate support of the relatively heavy roofiights, and which is capable when properly set or applied of sustaining abnormal stresses or weights.

A still further and particular object of the invention is to'provide means for the support of light blocks in spaced relationship to one another, characterized by the use of a thermal type of fill material between blocks to bring about an eifective insulation of the structure, and wherein the structure employed obtains the strength necessary for the support of the various elements without resort to other fill material possessing great strength but inferior insulating values.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a grid construction made, assembled and set in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially upon the line 2-2 ofFig.1. r Y

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken upon line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the grid members are secured together in cell-forming relationship, and

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing one of the truss members used in carrying out the invention and the manner in which the reenforcing rods are associated therewith.

Referring now to-the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the grid construction is disclosed as comprising a panel of cellular construction of a size and shape to fit within the roof or wall opening. It'will be understood that while the description refers to the panel as a rooflight, it is not necessarily restricted thereto, as the frame or panel may be applied to other walls of a building. Moreover, but a single panel is here shown and described, and it will also be understood that any number of panels may be fitted into a wall opening as 00-- casion may require.

The grid construction constituting a panel comprises a plurality of main base strips l0 disposed in spaced parallel relationship and in the present instance extending throughout the length of the panel. These strips are formed of suitable fiat metal of appropriate width. These main base strips are connected by secondary or transverse base strips I I formed identically like the main base strips [0 but of such length as to engage at their ends with the sides of the main base strips. The main as well as the transverse base strips are provided upon their upper faces with spaced longitudinally disposed ribs l2, each rib rising from its respective plate or strip a relatively short distance and having inwardly directed flanges I3 at their upper ends. These ribs are engaged on their inner faces by the ends of anchor clips represented generally at It. Each clip comprises a fiat plate or base I5 of a length substantially equal to the distance between the ribs l2, the ends of which slidably engage beneath the flanges I 3 as shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings. These anchoring clips serve as connectors between the ends of the secondary or transverse base strips Hand the edges of the main base strips I53; the base portions iii of the said clips spanning the abutting edges of the said strips and being anchored or firmly secured to these elements by welding indicated at l 6. Each of the anchoring clips is provided with upwardly extending wings or arms ll. These arms converge toward one another in an upward direction for the greater part of their length, after which they are flared outwardly as at l8 to provide anchoring surfaces.

A grid or panel constructed in this manner provides a cellular arrangement, the cells to receive the light blocks indicated at 19. These blocks may be formed o f glass or any other suitable material, and are of desired or preferred thicsrness. Each block is provided" around its lower edge with a rabbeted portion 20 to enable the edges of the blocks to rest securely upon the adjacent edges of the main and transverse base strips with the lower faces of the blocks disposed in the same plane as the lower faces ofthe: said s strips. This is shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the dr-awings. The upper edges of theblocirslfi: are proa vided with outwardly directed shoulders 2| which extend partway into the spaces overlying-the;

main and transverse basestrips.

A ,reenforcingg means for -the-.panel.; OIgC-QHUIELI construction thus far described, the truss. cone structionishown more; particularly. in; Figs. 2, 3 and: 5?. is;- employed: This; structure comprises spaced; upper; and lower: longitudinalsupporting members 22 which receive between them-the metallictruss structure; 23;. The members 22 may be; secured: to; the truss; members by welding or anyother desired means The truss structures thus formed are; dis-posed; in the. spaces-,-between the1 seyeralblocks. and; are disposed transyersely or; the; panel; the ,saidtrpss members being; tied to spaced reenforeing; rods 24 disposed trans ersel hev lfz l s members -spaces e tween.- bloclrsa lor gitudinally of; the panel. senic inai odsefli rese ured qr truss u ur .-;br.we1di e a ndi a ediat n .Ffia, 5. .of h raw nsa- A? rid trusture: r. Panel.- co stru a des r b dh z t e i ht-J b c .r rrang w thin the celis, after; which the;- spaces between; blocks: are illed with; a suitable; com-position. indicated as the filler 26. Filler materials: heretofore proposed for-struetures ofi this character; have;b een employed; mainly for; their; strengthening and moisturesealing;.efiect Thereenf orcingfeatures or 'the present structure permit of thepseoi filler materialsbetween blocks not particularly fonregenforcing; purposes, but mainly for desirable in.-

suiation againstheat-andcold transfer. Thisefiller material is supported; by"- the; underlying. base strips, firmly. embeds the. anchor. clips; as well as .the truss and; reenforcing ,rods andaterminates immediate yt-below h hould rel ,at h pne edges of eb ks '1 hena sfil errha epmei a for n s ric s pnli drmz h space between blocks and beneath th shoulders 2;l,, after' whiclra. sealing compound in liquid form; is poured-within thespace between blocks to the upper facesor the latter Thissealing material permanently seal the glass. blocks againstemoistureseepage. The therinalfillenlfi firmly embeds the anchoring; members, trusses androds .so that when .it becomes set theentire panel or. gr-idconstruction constitutesa rigid slab adeguatelymaintaining.the blocks in proper position. and,v enabling the entire structure to withstand. or resist. all weights to which itmay be reasonably subjected. If desired, the anchor clips iegmay. beapplied at places-ether thanthepoint of. connectionbetweenbas stripstin. order tolend additional, rigidity andstrength to. the .construction,

The. grid members. or; panels; thus; f ormedmay hanreiabricatedt fi a uildinei eehin yqi,l

scribed dimensions, after which it may be set or applied within the opening in any desired or preferred manner. In those instance where the size of the opening precludes the prefabrication of such panels, the grid may be formed and its edges firmly seated in the curb 28 in any desired or approved manner, after which the truss members, reenforcing rods and lights are applied, to belfollpwed by fillingthe spacesbetween blocks in the manner described? From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a grid or panel structure for roof or other wail lightst-which is extremely simple in construction, which may be assembled quickly, with a minimum of material and in a manner requiring a minimum of skilled help, at the sametimeassuring a rigid or sturdy construction fully capable of withstanding all normal stresses or strains.

I claim:

1; In argoiiighhstructure, a panel comprising base; strips disposed in a common. plane andv seeure al to;each other insubstantiallyright an ular rela ships toy. provide individual: cell between them fortthe reception and support of, blocksin spaced relatiomhip; to one another, spaced ribs on said base 2 strips, anchor clips-secured ,between said-1 ribs and projecting into the spaces between said blocks, a plastic material filling said, spaces andanchoring, saidi members, and mfiansfor seu ns-s p nd n i ee n nine.

2 Ina, roofiight. structure,- a, panel comprising base strips disposed in; a common plane ,and secured to each other insubstantially right angular relationship to provide, individual, cells: between them; blocks arrangediintsaid .cells and supported at, their, edges. bysaidstrips. and maintained by the lattendn spaced relationship, ribmembers pa edzfr m. ne a o he 11 a d strips a d. tending; intothe, spaces between said blocks, anchor clips secured at their lower ends between said rib members and, extendingdnto. said spaces, a, plastic; material .filling said spacesand anchor nssa di embers thereimand means-forsecuring said panel in a roof opening.

3.. Ina rooflight. structure, a panel com-prising base-.str rgs snosed ima mmonmlane-and di nqsed sub tant a iehtan u ar abutt n i lationship to provide. individual, cells. between hem,,b 1o,cks.a raneed i a d ll -and upp attheir. edges saidstrips and maintained by the latterv inspaced relationship, anchor clips see cured at.,their, lower ends. to said certain ,of. said trips ndiia id in re ations ip with ad a rightangularly. disposed strips, portions. 0i. said lips: x end n nto he. P a s.-. tween said black a pl st ma a fil ina; said paces. nd anchoring v said; members therein, and means. for securing said panel a roof opening.

4. In a rooflight structure, a panel comprising mainha stri s isposed, ma ,commoa anen in spaced parallel relationship,lateral base strips disposed between the main strips with their ends in engagement with thesides of-the latter, said strips providing cells; between; them, anchor members secured at their lower endsto said mainbase strips and' bridging-the sides of adjacent lateral base strips, blocks arranged intsaid cells with their edges resting upon thesidesof said. strips; and providing. spaces; between. them, w nesnroieetina rfim; a Q1 iBCl QT-':mflmbel'sialnd disposed in said spaces, and plastiamaterial fillmesa p s nde eddine a d mem rsa w nes. herei 5. In a roofiight structure, a panelcqmilrising main base strips disposed in a common plane and in spaced parallel relationship, lateral base strips disposed between the main strips with their ends in engagement with the sides of the latter and disposed in the same plane with said main strips, said main and lateral strips providing cells between them, anchor members secured at their lower ends to said strips and bridging said ends and sides, blocks arranged in said cells with their edges resting upon the sides of said strips and providing spaces between them, wings projecting from said anchor members and diposed in said spaces, truss members disposed within said spaces in one direction, reenforcing rods arranged within said spaces at right angles to said truss members, said truss members and reenforcing rods being secured together at their points of intersection, and plastic material filling said spaces embedding said members and wings therein as well as said trusses and rods.

6. In a rooflight structure, a panel comprising base strips disposed in a common plane and secured to each other in substantially right angular relationship to provide individual cells between them for the reception and support of blocks in spaced relationship to one another, ribs integral with and disposed longitudinally of said strips, flanges at the upper ends of said ribs projecting toward one another, clips comprising fiat plates resting upon said strips with their ends engaged beneath said flanges, wing members projecting outwardly from said base members and into the spaces between said blocks, and plastic material filling the spaces between said blocks and embedding said anchor members and wings therein.

7. In a roofiight structure, a panel comprising base strips disposed in a common plane and secured to each other in substantially right angular relationship to provide individual cells between them for the reception and support of blocks in spaced relationship to one another, ribs integral with said strips and extending into said spaces, flanges on the ribs of each strip projecting toward one another, clips comprising base plates resting upon said strips with their ends disposed beneath said flanges, wings projecting from said clip and disposed in angular relationship within said spaces, truss members disposed within and coextensive with certain of said spaces, reenforcing rods in other of said spaces intersecting said trusses, means connecting said trusses and rods, and plastic material filling the spaces between said blocks embedding said clips, trusses and rods therein.

8. In a rooflight structure, a panel comprising base strips disposed in a common plane and secured to each other in substantially right angular relationship to provide individual cells between them for the reception and support of blocks in spaced relationship to one another, plastic material resting upon said strips and partly filling the spaces between blocks, foraminous strips covering said plastic material, and a sealing compound covering said plastic material and foraminous strips and terminating at the outer faces of said blocks.

9. In a rooflight structure, a panel comprising base strips disposed in a common plane and secured to each other in substantially right angular relationship to provide individual cells between them for the reception and support of blocks in spaced relationship to one another, anchor clips secured to said strips arranged in spaced relationship to one another and projecting into the spaces between said blocks, a plastic thermal insulating material filling the said spaces and anchoring said members, and means for securing said panel in a roof opening.

GEORGE H. LENKE.

Name Date Lenke Apr. 22, 1947 Number 

